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Engineers Without Borders - Get Involved

EWB-MSU is comprised of undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty members alike from all majors. Whether the task is in El Salvador, East Lansing, or anywhere else around the world, we aim to not only deliver successful solutions to environmental problems, but also to provide an education on what was accomplished. At MSU we understand how important a good education is and are especially aware of how privileged we are to receive it. It is a great honor of ours to share this privilege with the world and welcome anyone who wishes to help our cause.

Getting involved in EWB-MSU is as simple as attending our bi-weekly meetings.

During the Fall and Spring Semesters, Engineers Without Borders MSU holds general meetings on a bi-weekly basis. Meeting dates for 2015:

Tanzania Summer 2014

Members of Spartans Without Borders (a sister organization to Engineers Without Borders) traveled to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in August of 2014 to help implement a borehole well project. The well is approximately 80 meters deep, and now provides fresh water to the surrounding community.

Students also spoke with schools and community groups about health and sanitation, surveying the community and introducing a device called a "tippy tap" that aids in handwashing.

Alternative Spring Break 2014

Members of MSU’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) rolled up their sleeves and dug into a construction project in Tennessee’s scenic Citico Creek Wilderness during the first week of March. Nine engineering students spent their "alternative spring break" building a new path on the Mill Branch Trail in Tennessee’s Cherokee National Forest. - See more at: http://www.egr.msu.edu/news/2014/03/17/alternative-spring-break-engineering-style

Members of MSU’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) rolled up their sleeves and dug into a construction project in Tennessee’s scenic Citico Creek Wilderness during the first week of March.

Nine engineering students spent their "alternative spring break" building a new path on the Mill Branch Trail in Tennessee’s Cherokee National Forest.

December 2013

Latrines that were constructed over winter break 2013 by GAIA, EWBs NGO partners in the El Balasmar community in El Salvador.

Summer 2011-2012

Over the summer of 2011, the Michigan State University Engineers Without Borders chapter received approval to work on a project in the community of El Balsamar, El Salvador. It is a poor community with approximately 600 residents (170 families), where the majority of incomes are supported by farming. Many El Balsamar families lack basic resources, including infrastructure and roads, clean water, and sanitation. The sanitation issues stem from a lack of human waste management facilities, which leads to the community being more susceptible to diseases and contamination of water sources in the region. One proposed project is to build 30-33 composting latrines throughout the community, targeting households with children of age five or less, and households near water sources.

The Michigan State University chapter conducted an assessment trip to El Balsamar from May 9 - May 15, 2012. The trip served as a way for our group to meet the community, to determine the feasibility of this project, and to gather information for the latrine design. With the conclusion of the assessment trip, it was determined that steps should be taken to implement our project design in the community. Our implementation trip is scheduled for March 2 -17, 2013.